| Title | : | A Story to Kill (Cat Latimer Mystery, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1496704363 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781496704368 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published August 30, 2016 |
A Story to Kill (Cat Latimer Mystery, #1) Reviews
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Last year, I won an ARC of a later book in the Cat Latimer series by Lynn Cahoon. I didn't have the time to start the series from the beginning, so I broke my own rule and read mid-series... it worked out and now I'm giving the whole series a fresh look from the debut, A Story to Kill. I enjoyed the book more than the later one, but I suspect it's a case of this is one of those series it's better to read in order. While Cahoon does a good job catching up readers on the basics, we learn so much more about the characters and begin to invest in them after what happened in the year leading up to the first book and the story in it, too. I'd suggest reading them in order if you're new to the series.
Cat Latimer married her college sweetheart after leaving her high school sweetheart, Seth, when he went into the army and they lost touch. When her husband started to cheat on her and grow distant, they divorced and she was distraught for a while. Before book one opens, he's passed away and left his home in Colorado to her. Cat decided to open a writer's retreat house (she had become an English professor and moved around a bit) before settling back in Colorado. Her first set of guests includes a famous author who ends up being strangled in his bedroom one night. Was it the kooky sisters who seem very at odds? A young college girl with a crush on him or someone else? A supposedly grieving widow? An angry writer who claims the guy stole his work? Or a former friend whose girlfriend went missing years ago and suspected the late author of foul play? Cat feels obliged to investigate alongside her Uncle Pete, the police chief, and best friend and chef, Shauna. She figures it out just a bit too late when the killer shows up to take care of her, too! But luckily someone steps in to save her at the last minute.
I love the concept of the writer's retreat. Cat is a sympathetic character who learns the death of her ex-husband, and what she thought he had been doing might not actually be the truth. The book ends on a cliffhanger making readers anxious to pickup the next one to find out the truth about the past. The mystery in this book was closed up nicely, but 50% of it was too easy while the other 50% was a challenge. I enjoyed the writing style and the setting, and the potential is strong. I look forward to continuing the series this year, as there are 4 currently with one on the way in the next year. Kudos to Cahoon for making this a wonderful reading retreat, too! -
When former English professor and current author, Cat Latimer, turns a big Victorian into a cozy Bed & Breakfast Inn in quiet Aspen Hills, CO; writers from several genres sign up for her writer's retreat. The solitude and sharing offers them the prime opportunity to concentrate on finishing and/or plotting their novels. Unknown danger lurks, and before the ink can blot a well known guest is abruptly murdered. With the help of her friend, Shauna, and hot handyman, Seth; Cat begins sleuthing for ties to the past that are crisscrossing into the present and threatening to destroy her plans for the future of the inn.
This debut cozy is classic Lynn Cahoon writing style--Gripping intrigue, main characters you'll bond with and root for, and a setting that's a booklover's dream. The mystery within a mystery will leave you eagerly anticipating book two!
I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. -
A STORY TO KILL is The story to read!
I’m a huge fan of author Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap Mysteries, available only in eBook and audio editions. However, being a woman who still loves holding a paper book in my hands, I was thrilled to hear Ms. Cahoon not only had a new series coming out, but it would be a print edition!
Brilliant from chapter one, with every page I turned I became more and more caught up in this book. I never like being distracted when reading, and I distract easily. That being said, a marching band could have paraded through the room and it would have had no chance of pulling me out of A STORY TO KILL.
Everything that I love about author Cahoon’s writing, her talent for developing multi-layered characters, providing wonderful locations, and gripping, edge of your seat mystery, are all present and accounted for in this exciting tale.
It’s clear Lynn Cahoon has a new hit series on her hands! Trust me when I say, you need to have A STORY TO KILL in your TBR.
When you do get your own copy, make sure to check out the sneak peek of book two in the Cat Latimer series, FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT. You’ll find it at the back of the book. -
When the series title character of a cozy spends the majority of her time being served food, napping and having teenage angst with her former high school beau, there's a problem. When a dead body is found in the main character's writer's retreat B&B and that main character doesn't seem terribly interested in finding out what's happened for many chapters or worried that one of her guests is a murderer, you've got a crisis as mystery tellings go.
This never quite got off the ground for me and was just okay. I liked the setting, some of the main characters (Shauna and Uncle Pete) and the majority of the secondary players in for the retreat. Cat is going to take longer to like or other things in her personality to be the focus. I didn't care about Seth or her angst over him as it felt as though it was still firmly cemented in high school all the way down to Cat's highschool rival. Seth seemed like a "boyfriend blank" which I've run across in other cozies. Those guys never have actual personalities but they're around to give the heroine a love interest seemingly for the sake of it. None of it added anything good to the story for this reader. Hopefully, there'll be less of this and more of a mystery in the subsequent books (because I already own at least four of them; damn those great book blurbs!). So much focus diverted from the actual mystery at hand made for a very slow pace and when all was revealed, it felt unnecessarily so.
I'll read the next but not immediately. I don't know that I'd recommend this but it's a bit difficult to tell about a cozy series overall from a first book. Sometimes they need to get the foibles worked out and turn out quite good. So, soft recommend with that in mind. -
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Author Cat Latimer is back in Colorado in the house she and her ex-husband used to own. Seems he never changed his will after their divorce and she is turning the house into a retreat for other writers to come to get it away from all their distractions at home to work on their books. The nearby college also has an excellent resource library and she hopes the writers will find inspiration or the details they need to bring their stories together.
She can’t believe bestselling author Tom Cook is one of her first guests. With the help of her friend Shauna, who can actually cook and her old high school boyfriend’s construction abilities this first retreat should go off without a hitch. That is until one of the authors attending the retreat meets his untimely demise. Cat thinks her plans for her new business are toast. But maybe, she will be able assist her uncle/ police chief find the killer and wrap this whole thing quickly before she is out of business.
As I have come to expect from this author she has created some very heartwarming characters and added the perfect amount of those who are much more unique. I love that Shauna has come with Cat and they are running this business together. Shauna is ultra organized and that leaves Cat time to not only write but investigate. Seth and Cat had a thing in high school but as happens they drifted apart. They are trying to take things slow, or least Cat is, but you can feel the sparks that ignite when they are even just in the same room together. Uncle Pete knows that Cat is not going to leave the investigating to him so he listens to all her ideas and her reports of what she has picked up while she is out and about. These are very detailed characters and so well crafted for just the first book in the series.
As for the mystery, I thought I knew the killer but had no idea why, there was no motive that I could see. When Cat kept digging and pushing things started to fall into place and one subplot wrapped up in a way I had hoped it would. There were plenty of twists and turns and deflection. A HUGE secret plays a major part to solving this mystery. The story kept my eyes almost literally glued to the pages. I needed my questions answered just like Cat.
In true Lynn Cahoon style while the main mystery concluded, she pulls us in at the end with a cliffhanger. Fatality by Firelight come out February 28, 2017. Thankfully we don’t have to wait a whole year -
There was a lot I liked about this first book in this series, and one thing I didn't. Overall, though this was high on the list of cozies I've liked, and will definitely read the next book in the series to see how it develops.
First, what I liked. I really liked the writers retreat aspect and talk about reading and writing books. Having the retreat set in an old house renovated for the purpose is also a fun component, especially as the renovations are continuing during this book.
I really liked the motley cast of characters, both the "regulars" who will obviously be permanent members, and the writers coming to the retreat. The writers who visit makes this a series that has lots of potential for keeping the concept of this series fresh and unpredictable, since new guests mean new plots that are actually plausible, rather than just a formula that gets thinner and thinner in terms of believeability. There are lots of possibilities with this idea.
I like that the setting is Colorado, a different locale than many cozies I've read and somewhere I don't know that much about.
I liked the complexity and the secrets that are revealed in Cat's life, in addition to the murder that takes place among the first set of guests at the retreat. That also set up some potentially intriguing plot lines for future books and interested me.
The one thing about this I didn't love was Cat's angst about her potential romance with Seth. To avoid spoilers, all I will say is: "Stop mooning about and DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT, Cat!" The anguish and drama and caterwauling was way over the top, even for a cozy. It also didn't jibe with the rest of Cat's personality in the book. I didn't buy that she would be a weepy, angry mess about something that should be a no-brainer. That one thing irked me throughout the story, but hopefully in the next book, that will have resolved, so Cat can move forward without the histrionics.
Overall, though, I really enjoyed this, and am looking forward to reading more in this series. -
Cat Latimer is surprised that ex-husband, Michael had not changed his will that left her the home they brought together. Cat returns home to Colorado to open a Writer's Retreat. Her book about a teenager witch has hit the best seller's list. The first session has a famous author, Tom Cole attending. The session is a disaster as Tom is found dead in his room. Her uncle, the sheriff, has no clue to what happened. Besides the murder, there is greed, romance, adoration and abuse in the book. It is written so well, you will have trouble with the answer until it is revealed. I am ready to read Cat's next adventure.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
PUBLICATION DATE: AUGUST 30, 2016 -
Cat Latimer is an author who moves back to her hometown in Colorado after inheriting a Victorian mansion from her ex-husband. She is surprised that he never changed his will when they divorced. They were both professors at the local college, he in Economics, she in English. She renovates the house into a bed and breakfast where she will hold monthly writing retreats. When Cat finds out that Shauna, her partner, has hired her high school sweetheart, Seth, as their handyman, old emotions rise to the surface. As the first group of writers arrives for a week-long retreat, Cat is not sure whether this was a good idea or not. World-famous author Tom Cook is attending the first retreat, giving Cat high hopes her new business venture will be successful. When Cat finds Tom, dead in his room, she calls her uncle, the local police chief. What is this going to do to her new business? To save her business and its reputation, Cat finds herself investigating and following clues to find the killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down! I read it in a couple of days due to interruptions. The characters and plot are believable, and the story is well-written. The mystery was well-developed and engaging, with plenty of suspects along with twists and turns. A missing person, a fake wall, and some very odd characters all add to the story. The book was well paced and spiced up with just a hint of romance. The ending was unexpected yet, fit with the story. There is an intriguing cliff-hanger that makes me happy I have the second book ready to go. If you enjoy a good mystery that is not gory, pick this one up, even if you don't normally read cozy mysteries. You won't be disappointed. -
I really enjoyed this first in series. I look forward to reading the rest!
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Lynn Cahoon has written a very good mystery with an appealing main character. The setting is a winner, too, and I loved the house Cat inherited as well as learning how she and her business partner/friend Shauna had set up the retreat. This isn't the first cozy with a retreat-type setting that I've read, so I found it interesting that Cat hadn't thought to run background checks on her attendees either. That should probably be the very first tip in "Craft & Writers' Retreats for Dummies." (Don't google it; I made that title up.) I also wondered about having Seth do all that remodeling work on the house while the retreat was being held. There were supplies and tools out in the yard, a lot of hammering going on, and traffic with the aforementioned Seth and supplies on the same stairs the guests were using. As clumsy (and oblivious) as I know people can be, I would think Cat would finish the remodeling before she ran her first retreat to avoid possible injuries and law suits. I know, I know... she didn't have enough money to do it that way-- and Seth needed to be around a lot of the time.
With the exception of Shauna, Seth, and Cat's uncle, the secondary cast doesn't stand out much, and since I'm the type of mystery reader who doesn't like much romance in her whodunits, there was way too much tingling going on between Cat and Seth. Enough that I really don't care to read further in the series. But that's just me-- the love-is-in-the-air element may tickle you pink, and I hope it does.
A Story to Kill ends on a bit of a cliffhanger concerning Cat's ex-husband, and it should draw you right into the next book in the series, Fatality by Firelight. Cat Latimer is a stellar main character and so is the writers' retreat setting. If romance is your thing, add that to what you will hopefully find to be a very enjoyable mystery. -
A Story to Kill is the first in a new series, A Cat Latimer Mystery Series. Cat Latimer has recently inherited a house and the estate of her ex-husband, an economics professor at a small college. She is a writer and is turning the house into a writer’s retreat B and B type business. The book opens with the first group of guests due to arrive including a famous novelist who is writing a revealing memoir about his youth at the college.
Once the murder occurs, Cat has her hands full trying to clear her guests names and keep them calm, hosting the victim’s spouse, worrying about keeping her fledgling business afloat and meeting her own editor’s deadlines. Along with the main plot line, there is a subplot that concerns Cat’s ex-husband, his death and what really happened during their marriage, this is part is not resolved in this first book and appears as though it will be an over-arching mystery for the series. There is also a romantic subplot, in the form of a hunky handyman, Seth.
Very enjoyable cozy read, classic college town atmosphere, engaging writer’s retreat theme, and an intelligent educated sleuth. -
It's hard to say which is worse: the robotic audiobook narrator or the book itself.
If someone is MURDERED during a writer's retreat, that death should affect the other writers. Especially if nobody knows who killed the guy--if a murderer might be in their midst. But everyone's response to the murder in this book is to make a laughing remark about how the death will probably hurt future business. Then they go on to talk about how their writing is going. The widow who flies in the next day doesn't even seem to be very affected, and hangs out with all the writers as if she's just there to socialize. The old biddy who's falsely accused of the murder also doesn't seem to be affected, but just savors her time in lock-up as good research for her writing. So many things in this book didn't make any sense. And the grammar wasn't always clear. -
I thought this seemed rather bitty and repetitive, especially the obsession with Seth, so I didn't enjoy it as much as the Tourist Trap books I've read. That said, it does have potential, and it's possible that the issues were to do with the author bedding in a new series, so I'll probably try the second one and see if it's an improvement.
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3.5 stars
Ready to read more -
A Story To Kill
Cat Latimer Mystery, Book #1
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars
Synopsis:
A new series from the author of the Tourist Trap Mysteries!
Former English professor Cat Latimer is back in Colorado, hosting writers’ retreats in the big blue Victorian she’s inherited, much to her surprise, from none other than her carousing ex-husband! Now it’s an authors’ getaway—but Cat won’t let anyone get away with murder…
The bed-and-breakfast is open for business, and bestselling author Tom Cook is among its first guests. Cat doesn’t know why he came all the way from New York, but she’s glad to have him among the quirkier—and far less famous—attendees.
Cat’s high school sweetheart Seth, who’s fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat…some of them a little overpowering. But it’s her uncle, the local police chief, whom she’ll call for help when there’s a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room. Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun? (Goodreads)
Review:
After finding out that her cheating low life husband has left their house to her after his death, she decides to turn their home into a bed and breakfast retreat for writers. With the help of her good friend, Shauna, they have their first set of guests, including a famous author. When he is found dead, Cat gets caught up in helping her uncle, the chief of police, solve the crime.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Cat is a strong woman and although life has not always been kind to her, especially in the romance department, she has not let it keep her down for long. With the new retreat to keep her busy, she feels like she does not have the time or energy for a new romance. But when her high school sweetheart, Seth, turns out to be the handyman for the bed and breakfast, she spends more time with him than she is comfortable with. She has to deal with her feelings for him and her ex-husband. I enjoyed reading about the interactions between Cat and Seth, and I look forward to learning how their relationship will develop.
The main mystery was carried out wll throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects and enough twists and turns to keep this reader guessing. I had an idea who the killer was but I had no clue as to the motive for the murder. There are also a couple of other mysteries involved, and those appear to be on-going. One is the stalking of Cat by her dead ex-husband (his ghost, perhaps) and the other is what activity her ex-husband was involved in before his death. I am looking forward to learning more about both of these in future books.
The author is very talented in her character development, the setting, and the mysteries. I felt like I was right there watching all the activity going on around me and hearing the conversations first hand. I really like the idea of the bed and breakfast writer retreat because it will provide new characters to meet and learn about in each book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I have read all of the cozy books written by this author and I have really enjoyed every one of them. If you are already a fan of this author, you will find this book as good as all of her others. If she is a new author to you, be sure to check out all her books because they are all top notch.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. -
Conoscendo l'autrice, ritenevo che anche questa sua nuova serie sarebbe stata bella, ma non mi aspettavo di essere così presa dalla storia! La parte gialla è ben orchestrata, con vari "falsi indizi" per così dire, anche se poi il colpevole non è stato una gran sorpresa (di più la motivazione). C'è una bella iniezione di romance e la protagonista, come pure i comprimari, sono molto interessanti. Per una volta la protagonista, o uno dei suoi amici, non è additato dalla polizia come presunto colpevole, come accade spesso in questo genere di libri. Beh, d'altra parte il capo della polizia è l'amato zio della protagonista... C'è un mistero irrisolto che lascia un po' con il fiato sospeso: tocca aspettare il prossimo libro, almeno credo. Spero che l'autrice non lo lasci in sospeso a lungo perché non amo molto le storie lasciate a metà.
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I'm getting away from "Cozy" mysteries unless they set themselves apart in some way. This one is set in my beloved Colorado, but alas, it's just not smart enough. I gave up after about the tenth irritation.
One of your guests is murdered, you should worry about getting the stains out of the carpet and if it will have an effect on future bookings. The wife of the murdered man books in and immediately says how she's looking forward to visiting the college they went to and seeing the changes? Holy cow! Extreme lack of emotional intelligence here, and even more when it comes to the "Love interest." I can't stand it when an author confuses strength or intelligence with being a bitch. Cat is ridiculously rude to him and I can't find a thing to like about her, why would he? -
Cat Latimer has returned home to Colorado. She has inherited her former home from her ex-husband and is turning it into a writers’ retreat. The beautiful blue victorian is filled with memories and Cat is working on starting over. Her best friend Shauna has moved with her from California and is working as the resident chef and assistant to Cat.
Cat is also employing her high school sweetheart to make repairs and remodeled parts of the house.
The first retreat is underway and includes bestselling author, Tom Cook. Also included among the first guests are a pair of quirky sisters who write romance, a graduate student, and a man of which little is known.
The retreat has only just begun when Cat must call her Uncle Pete, the local police chief, to help out with an unexpected event at the house. A murder may change the course of the retreat and Cat’s future in her new business.
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters are interested and develop well as the story goes on. I keep wondering if Billy is a character that will pop up again. Everyone seemed to have a pad feeling about him, but we never find out of it is more than the fact he’s jerk. I also like the sisters and though they live in another part of the country I hope they will visit the retreat again some time. The action in the story moves along at a nice pace. There are no lulls in the action. The story’s end leaves us with a hint of what is to come in the next book. I definitely recommend this book and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. -
Really enjoyed this book - can't wait to read book 2!
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This was an entertaining start to a new to me, author and cozy series. The main cast of characters are engaging starting with the heroine Cat, her best friend and partner Shauna, former lover Seth and her uncle the chief of police Pete Edmond. Even her
I’m really looking forward to getting the second book in the series to see where it goes from here. I enjoy reading books about books and this series with a houseful of authors looks to be just the new series I was searching for. -
Filled with both intrigue and wit, A Story to Kill is a positively addictive and flawless debut for the Cat Latimer Mystery series.
In A Story to Kill we meet the former professor and author Cat Latimer. She, along with her friend, Shauna, have just opened up a writers retreat in her small hometown. With a little bit of excitement and a whole lot of nerves, Cat welcomes her first group of authors into her home. However, things begin to sour when a prominent author is murdered in his room. Now, let the ammeter sleuthing begin!
As she tries to uncover what happened, Cat stumbles on more secrets and lies than even she thought possible. Yet, with all of this happening, Cat is faced with another problem… her late ex-husband. She has a sinking suspicion that there is more to his death. Almost in tandem, the mystery behind the murder and her marriage start to reveal itself. Though, I will tell you that only one of those mysteries will be wrapped up by the end of the book. What will happen? Will they catch the killer before all the guests return home to their lives? You will just have to read to find out.
There is nothing more perfect than a well crafted mystery and Lynn Cahoon knows just how to do that. I have read every single one of the Tourist Trap Mysteries and let me tell you all that this book is on a whole new level. The twists and turns are so engrossing that as the story unravels, you will not be able to look away from the pages in front of you. I know that I couldn’t.
However, for as much as the pure mystery of it all is wonderful, what really makes the story for me is the cast of characters that the author brings in. They are not only fun and quirky, but they also give a true depth to the world that is created within the book. You will laugh at some and want to smack others, but they all are so well developed that at the end, you will be sorry to leave them behind.
So what do you say? Want to cozy up with your next mystery series addiction?
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3.5 stars
Several of my blogging friends have had good things to say about Cahoon's Tourist Trap mysteries so when I had the chance to start her new series, I jumped at it. It helped that the premise was appealing; a former English professor turned writer who also leads writing retreats? Catnip!
"A Story To Kill" did not disappoint. The story captured me from page one; if not for sleep and work, I would have kept reading all the way through. I tried to stay up until the wee hours to finish it but I was sick and tired and my body said "Sleep!" The story kept me guessing as to who the killer was. I had several guesses and one was accurate. But, there were actually multiple mysteries, some of which were wrapped up by the end and one which continues. It seems like it will run through several books, maybe the entire series? The different threads were woven together seamlessly and the action never slowed down. One thing I didn't expect was the heavy romance aspect in the story. Cozies often have a romance but it's not usually the focus. It was a focus in "A Story To Kill"; so much so that you could consider this a romantic suspense/mystery novel and not just a cozy mystery. The love interest, Seth, though he's mostly likable, was too assertive and cocky for my tastes. It took me a while to warm up to him. Frankly, I'd be just as happy if Cahoon dispensed with the romance or took it down several notches.
I liked our heroine, Cat, and her friend and business partner Shauna. They're smart, capable, clever and very relatable. I'm looking forward to learning more about both of them as the series progresses and I'm very curious as to how Cahoon will pull off having murders occur on a regular basis in this small town. If they keep happening at Cat's B&B, she'll be out of business in no time!
Pick up a copy of "A Story to Kill", you won't be sorry. Multiple mysteries, an inside look at writing, a fun setting, a romance, there's something for every reader. -
This was a terrific book. I read the entire thing in one day. This book has wonderful characters. I felt that the characters were well written and very dimensional. They jumped out from the page and I instantly liked the main character. Cat Latimer is a strong, independent woman. Although she is returning to the home she shared with her now deceased ex-husband, she is determined to make a go of her new writers retreat venture with her best friend Shauna. I liked Shauna as well. She is a terrific friend in all the ways that count to Cat. The writers attending the retreat and Cat's Uncle Pete round out the cast and prove to be very interesting in their own right.
I thought the mystery was well done. The author provided the reader with many good suspects, a lot of clues, twists and turns and a couple of minor mysteries, one of which is connected to the murder of the famous writer attending the retreat. I thought the author did a fantastic job of weaving all of the clues throughout the story along with some red herrings to throw the reader off the trail. While the culprit is not a surprise, I thought Ms. Cahoon did a great job of tying up the loose ends as to motive for this suspect. There was one minor mystery that was not tied up at the end of this book, but I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger. I can see this mystery unfolding over the course of the next few books as it weavers it way into Cat's next adventures.
There is a bit of romance thrown in as well, as Cat reconnects with her high school boyfriend and the sparks are still there. I don't think the romance in any way overpowered the mystery and was well written into the plot.
I was provided an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion as the thoughts expressed are my own. -
This is the first in a brand new series by Lynn Cahoon. This is a charming mystery filled with wonderful characters, a few secrets, and a second chance at love.
Cat Latimer has inherited the house she lived in with her ex-husband, much to her surprise. Cat and her friend, Shauna are going to host writer retreats. Unfortunately, things don't go as smooth when famous author Tom Cook is found dead in his room. Cat starts asking questions and finds more questions than answers. Determined not to let justice go undone, Cat sets out to find what happened to the famous author.
While Cat is trying to take things in stride with the murder investigation, she discovers secrets her ex-husband hid from her and may change the way she things and feels about him. Cat left her ex-husband becuause he was cheating on her, or so she thinks? Cat starts looking through the boxed up belongings in hopes of finding answers and a little bit of peace.
This ia a terrific mystery filled with some fun characters, a few villians, and one eccentric writer. I felt immersed in this story, like I was following along with the characters and observing the dialog and action. I enjoy books that I have the sense where I am a part of the book. There were plenty of surprises as I read, they kept things interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received a copy of this manuscript from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
This looks to be the beginning of a good new series by Lynn Cahoon. Cat Latimer was an English professor at Covington College in her hometown of Aspen Hills, Colorado until she and her Michael got divorced after Cat discovers his infidelity. Cat moved to California and became an author. Michael has died of a heart attack and left Cat their former home, much to her surprise. Now she is back in Aspen Hills and brought her friend, Shauna, along to start up her large home as a B&B to host writers' retreats. Shauna is handling cooking and the business end of things while Cat handles events for the writers. The first retreat turns out to be more eventful than Cat would have thought or wanted including the murder of one of the writers. This is a cozy whodunit that includes on the side the hopeful rekindling of a high school romance. In addition to the solved mystery, a little cliffhanger is left to be solved in the next book, hopefully, that involves what was going on with Michael before his death.
I have enjoyed the Tourist Trap series a lot and look forward to this new series and getting to know a new cast of characters. -
Great new series
This is a first in a series and I hope the books continue on this strong story line.
I found the main characters to be strong and still there is room for more development. So it will be fun to see which way they go.
I liked the idea of a writers retreat, started by a writer who inherited an old Victorian house from her ex-husband, who has no clue on what she is doing. She just knows what she wants to give to hopeful writers.
A week away from their real life to write.
To bad she's like me and doesn't quite think things through.
What I didn't understand was the construction going on while the writers are there.
If Cat needed the money so much, then why is the retreat only open to writers one week out of the month.
I think the fun will be seeing how Cat and her business partner Shauna learn to deal with the reality of strangers coming and going in their home.
And how Cat will deal with her old love. -
This is the first book in the Cat Latimer series. Cat Latimer along with her friend, Shauna, run a writers retreat/bed and breakfast. They have only a small group as they are still renovating with the help of Cat high school boyfriend. A famous writer, who also went to the nearby college, has decided to attend the writers retreat. After the first night he gets murdered. Fearing what this could do to their business, Cat and Shauna start looking into his death. His wife comes and stays as well when she learns of his death and we learn about some secrets from the authors college days.
I loved all of the characters. They were well developed and well written. I liked Cat and Seth reconnecting with each other. I liked the subplots in the story and will read the second book to hopefully get a resolution on one of them. The mystery was good. I didn't initially know who the killer was, but after a while it was pretty easy to figure out. This was a good start to a series. -
This is good entertainment, really thought it'd be about a feline solving crimes but, it wasn't...still enjoyed. Good enough to try a second one but, not in a hurry. Characters good but, not smart enough, tough enough or really memorable and some murdery stuff.
